Actress Tina Fey pays visit to alma

UPPER DARBY» It’s not every day students and staff at Upper Darby High School get a surprise visit from comedian Tina Fey, one of their most famous alumnus, but Wednesday was an exception.

The Emmy-winner returned to her alma mater to shoot a promotional video for “Mean Girls: The Musical,” the new Broadway show based on her cult classic 2004 film “Mean Girls” which was adapted for the stage. The show has a leading 12 Tony nominations, including a Best Book of a Musical nomination for Fey, going into the June 10 ceremony.

Although Fey has said that Upper Darby wasn’t

the sole basis for “Mean Girls,” she said there were some royal influences put into the film.

District Spokeswoman Dana Spino said Fey was with a friend to shoot a reflective video reminiscing about their time at the high school.

Spino said the shoot lasted for about four hours during the school day as they visited the Performing Arts Center, the cafeteria, walked in on a class and a superintendent’s meeting, and simply “just walked the halls.” Fey met with students who had seen “Mean Girls: The Musical” as part of their choir trip to New York City this year and was audience to an impromptu performance by the school’s Encore Singers.

Fey also met with two influential members of the school’s creative arts scene in Barbara Benglian and Harry Dietzler.

The visit to Upper Darby was her most noted appearance since she hosted a special screening of “Mean Girls” at the Performing Arts Center in 2014. Fans took to Twitter to talk about Wednesday’s visit.

“Have now met Tina Fey twice at UD, sang for her today,” wrote a graduating senior named Ky. “We’re basically best friends now. Next a hoagie date at Wawa.”

A recent alumnus appreciated that Fey comes back to her old stomping ground.

“The fact that Tina Fey still visits Upper Darby HS is the best thing ever,” wrote Twitter user @julhodg.

Fey is a 1988 graduate of Upper Darby whose career has flourished, making her one of the most honored female comedians of all time. She has been nominated for 42 Emmy awards for various programs in her many capacities as an actress, writer and producer, earning six trophies for her show “30 Rock” and three more for her guest starring roles on “Saturday Night Live.” She also earned a Grammy nomination for the spoken word recording of her autobiography “Bossypants.”

“Mean Girls: The Musical” is Fey’s first attempt in creating a Broadway show and it garnered her first Tony nomination.

PHOTO COURTESY OF UPPER DARBY SCHOOL DISTRICT Comedian Tina Fey takes a photo with district administrators, faculty and students during her recent trip to Upper Darby High School.

PHOTO COURTESY OF UPPER DARBY SCHOOL DISTRICT Upper Darby Performing Arts Center Director Harry Dietzler, center, met with Tina Fey, left, on Wednesday. Dietzler worked with Fey to organize a special screening of ‘Mean Girls’ at the PAC in 2014.